Goal
Make sure that KDE's software gets adopted massively by the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Use this adoption as a proof of concept for future migrations in the public sector.
Context
The state of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany is migrating to FLOSS in a big way. They are migrating 30,000 machines, between servers, workstations, and laptops totally or partially (i.e. migrating some apps, like from MS Office to LibreOffice) to OSS.
We see this an opportunity to get a large-ish public administration to adopt KDE software.
What we have done so far
We sent an email to the IT department and received an invitation for a call with the project leaders. We met the leaders over video-conference on 13/2/25. @joseph's notes summarise what we talked about below.
Meeting 2025-02-13 15h-16h
Introductions
On behalf of Schleswig-Holstein
- Nici Beckendorf (StK) - works with Nils, strategic communication, development of OS Office program, networking with other communities
- Dirk Bornhoeft - Head of Central IT management, infrastructure and technology for comprehensive collaboration
- Sven Thomsen (SH) - Dept for Central IT solutions, digitizations of the federal state (18 people), open innovation, open to EU IT community, collaborative development
- Felix Gebauer - in Dirk's team as project lead for NextCloud and XWiki (?), program lead to develop digital sovreign workplace
- Nils Trates-Wrobel - developed the OS strategy, also interested in digital sustainability
On behalf of KDE
- Paul Brown - promotion and communication
- David Redondo - Plasma developer
- Joseph De Veaugh-Geiss - KDE Eco
Topics
End Users
- 30k workstations
- Sven: focused on data center scale applications, data base systems, in last 4-5 years desktop solutions; replacing software like M Exchange with Open Exchange, NextCloud, currently using Windows OS, OpenSUSE Tumbleweek with KDE Plasma 5, Plasma 6 migration in coming weeks, trying to make experience similar to Windows, local feel with standardized wall papers, corporate identity, 50 pilot users with officially supported desktop, if there is a problem call Data Port to get support, some closed-source apps which need Electron shell, currently stepping up role out first for technical people but also integration tests for Microsoft-based applications
- Currently in the process of using KDE native apps for enterprise usage
- Not commited to openSUSE for now, will have a call later
- Police stations in SH are already managed by their team, use DE for Fachapplikationen 'Task Applications' (e.g., Artus for stolen bicycles)
Note taking devices and software
- Paul: Requested a list of criteria for using FOSS software, conditions that need to be met, e.g., accessibility. There is no list as yet, and nothing tested regarding accessibility, BUT things will happen over the next couple of years and accessibility will be a big issue.
- They are interested in better support for touch-based interfaces, using handwriting for taking notes and further processing, as the courts are interested in retiring paper and are now using tablets and stylus
- Paul: Is everyone issued the same HW? How many devices? Can we get information about that HW? A: Thousands of devices. Contact Sven for info. Note-taking and digitization of the notes. Stylus-driven actions. Q (David): Are these just PDFs? A (Sven): No, just note-taking on e-paper. (OneNote application, need a migration path to a simple markdown-based systems, they need solutions)
- Plasma-Mobile
- They are interested in a highly-secure, basic, mobile device solution. No need for a full-fledged compatibility with Android or iOS,a s those are prone to external attacks from adversaries.
- Not urgent, not on the agenda for this year
- Do not require the usual functionality of other smartphone OSes
- Simplicity is a plus
Not Migrated
- We asked for a list of services and products they have not migrated away from.
- OneNote
- They are interested in web-based applications, but are open to scenarios which may need desktop-integration
Collaboration
- They agree to development / upstream changes
- Open communication channels
Green IT
- Mostly Nils spoke, also Nici
- Sustainability (Development) Goals?
- They are interested in Okular and BE, most users are using this
- They are interested energy consumption tools for end users, like a widget to show energy consumption
- Upcycling: unfortunately they are already in the process of replacing laptops for Windows 11. They will donate the obsoleted HW to schools and non-profits.
- We asked of we could be part of the process and help upcycling those devices and promoting
- Digital society, enabling digital migration to Linux, possibility for sponsorship
- Very interested in KDE Eco
Press Work
- They are planning a press release in a few weeks. They will forward us dates, proposals and materials for joint press releases
- No talk about concrete Linux distributions yet, but they want the desktops to be Plasma
- C,t will be doing an article on the official start of the Linux-based desktop. They will advise us when that comes out
- They are open to doing a presentation/keynote for Akademy
TODO
- Get make and model of note-taking devices used in courts
- Pass info on to "We care about your Input" goal champions (@jpetso )
- Look for (preferably KDE) drop in for OneNote
- Get Plasma Mobile development team on board to create simplified, locked down, stable version for a specific hardware platform (check with @EspiDev )
- Find out how we can work with Dataport, they're IT support company,
- Try and get them to install a Plasma-based OS on the machines to be recycled
- Check what they need from Kontact/KMail
- Check with GnuPG what kind of advantages we can offer over, say, Thunderbird
- ...
(to be continued)